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Digital Entrepreneurship

Internet and mobile technologies are powerful tools for creating high-value jobs and strengthening social inclusion. The Digital Entrepreneurship Program supports the growth of competitive mobile applications industries in emerging and frontier markets. The program is scaling Mobile Application Labs (mLabs)—incubation facilities and innovation hubs for digital entrepreneurs—in Kenya, South Africa, and Senegal.

Mobile Application Labs (mLabs)

mLabs are regional incubation facilities for mobile software entrepreneurs that offer physical work spaces, state-of-the-art equipment and testing facilities, business skills training, and access to early-stage finance through investor networks. Explore the map to learn more about mLabs and local innovation hubs (mHubs).

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Sensors in elevators that alert government agencies to public safety risks; data from school bags to keep children safe; garbage trucks with the smarts to save cities money… The Internet of Things (IoT) will change everything. That is the conventional wisdom. We set out to look for evidence...

This report is a follow-up assessment from the 2014 report Do mLabs make a Difference. The report shares key findings on the impact of infoDev’s mobile application labs (mLabs). mLabs were designed as pilot projects in 2011, to provide specialized incubation and acceleration services to digital...

This toolkit was made for managers of tech hubs. Dozens of tech hubs have emerged over the last few years across the globe. Managers of these innovation and entrepreneurship enablers grapple with problems that infoDev has experience with. This toolkit takes lessons that infoDev has gathered...

This set of reports assesses existing mobile application (app) business models targeted at, or suitable for, people living at the base of the pyramid (BoP). The reports address specific pain points for app developers and provide practical, actionable advice. Their recommendations are specific to...